Refrigerating apparatus.



0. J. COLEMAN.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1901. RENEWED JULY-26, 1913. 1,16%,999. I Patented July 7, 1914.

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, .illllE 7 1 G. J. COLEMAN.

REPRIGERATING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED NOV.14, 1901. RENEWED JULY 26, 1913.

1,102,999. Patented July 7, 1914,

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

CLYDE J. COLEMAN, OF NEW" YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, .TO VIRGINIA REFRIGERATOR 'CORPQRATION, A- CORPORA'JIIQN OF VIRGINIA.

REFRIGERA'IING APPARATUS.

Specification of LettersIatent.

Patented July 7, 1914.

Application filed November 14, 1901, Serial No. 82,172. Renewed July 26, 1913. f Serial No. 781,382.

' To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLYDE J. Connnrnma citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city of New York,

in the county of New'York and State of New York, have invented certain new and i useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmg.

Mylnventlon relates to refrigerating ap- .paratus.

My invention consists "in the provision of means for removing foreign gases from a refrigerating system controlled by the temperature of the condenser and further differ entially controlled by the working temperature of the condenser and the increased temperature resulting from the presence of fore1gngases. v

-- My invention further consistsin varlous improvements in construction and combination of parts.

1 enlarged side jplete refrigerating apparatus.

enlarged sectional elevation of the valve I will now describe the construction of refrigerating apparatus embodying my 1nvention illustrated in the accompanylng drawings and will thereafter point outmy invention in claims.

Figure 1 1s a sectional elevatlon of a comof a compressorQ, a condenser 5 and a cool- -ing chamber 6, and the compressor s actuated by'the expanded mediumfrom the vaporizer or boiler 1 and acts to exhaust and withdraw another portion .of the medium from the coolin chamber 6, and to compress this medium an force it into the condenser 5. The application of heat to the vaporizer or boiler is shown as accom lish'ed'by a gas burner 7, the gas supply 0 .which' is regulated by a thermostatic regulator 8, having a bulb 9 exposed within the vaporizer or' boiler, and the thermostatic regulator acts I automatically to diminish the supply of combustible gas to the flame when the tem- Fig. 2.is an I I l I 1 c perature 1n the vaporlzen or boller rises above a predetermined point. The boiler] receives its supply of medium from the condenser 5 through a statlc column condu1t 10 which feeds the condensed fluid or medium and is of suflicient height to overcome the difference of pressure between the condenser 5 and the boiler l. 'An-a'utomatic valve is provided for regulating the inflow of condensed medium from the static column conduit 10 to the boiler, comprising a float actu- Y ated valve 11, located 'in a chamber 12 alongside of the boiler so as not to be af boiler or other chamber. The float .13 of the float valvell has a considerable advantage of-leverage over-the valve, the float be-' ing on a long arm and the valve stem con nected to a short arm of the float lever 14.

The expanded medium asses out of the boiler and upward throng the conduit 15. which leads to the compressor 2.

The compressor 2 has a power part and a compression part and a movable device for a each part which, in the embodiment of my invention shown, consists of a separate piston for each part, .the two pistons being connected so as to move together and the power piston 60 being of considerably larger area than the compression piston 61. The

areas of the pistons are large relatively to the capacity of the a paratus so that the pistons effectivelv per orm, their work With a comparatively slow movement. .The power piston 60 fits loosely within. its cylinder 62 and is sealed so as to confine the expanded medium to the space below this piston, by means of a downwardly extending shell. or skirt 64which projects from the iston 60 and enters an elongated annu ar Well formed in a lower extension of the cylinder. and dips within a body of mercury located therein, the annular well being only sufli ciently large to ermit the skirt 64 of the piston to move reely .therein andwith a' comparatipely thin annular column of mer only oneach side thereof. The power piston 60 is connected to thec'ompression pistom 61 by a piston rod 65, and the compression piston 61 also has a'downwardly extending'sklrt 66 entering an elongated annular well formed in the lower part of its cylinder 67 and dipping, within a body of mercury located therein,

tween the space above the power piston'60 and the space below the compression 61, these two spaces being separated by a partition 68 having a downwardly projecting tubular extension 69 which surrounds 1 the piston rod 65 and dips in a body of mer- 'cury cured tion with each of may be applied as desired for such purpose. the reservoir 71 at the inner wallof the well for the piston skirt 66 and 20 are provided for the control of the me located within the tube or well 70seto .and carried by the power piston 60. Sufficient clearance is rovided between the lower end of the'tubu ar extension 69 and the bottom of-the tubular well 70 and between theupper end of the wall of the tubular well. 70 and the artition 68 to allow for themovement of, tll

wells, I have provided a reservoirlocated at the upper part of a wall of each well to retain a considerable body of the fluid and prevent overflowing, and these reservoirs I- have shown the reservoir 7 2 at the outer wall of the well for the tubular extension 69.

An intake valve 19andan exhaust valve dium on the power. side of the compressor,

the intake valve 19 being located at the ,up-

per end of the conduit 15 from the boiler 1 and the exhaust valve 20'beinglocated at the upper end of a conduit'21,leading downward from the compressor and upward through to an arm into the condenser. 4 These valves are automatically actuated by the movement of. the pistons the actuating rod 22, located-in an elongated pocket within (see .Fig. 2) and 'havin I adapted to be actuated by contact with the upper and lower ends of the pocket in the piston rod and-extending downward and p1vot-ally..connected 2 1 of the-controlling weighted lever 25. The actuatingrod is operated as .upper end and moves the pistons approach the lower end of theig stroke by contact of the knob 23 with the to swing theweighted. lever 25' sothat its center of gravitywill be moved beyond its pivotal centerand so that -it will fall by gravity to its right hand extreme'position.

The actuating rod is operatedhy-contact-jof 7 its knob 23 with the lower end-"itifi the pocket of the-piston rod as the-pistons approach the whereby a seal is p'istone pistons; In connec-- these two last mentioned the drawings,

the piston rod 65. a knob or enlarge of the pocket in the piston rod downward a sufiicient distance press themedium upper end oftheir stroke, and swings the weighted lever 25 to the left a suflicient distance so'that its weight will carry it to its. extreme left hand position, This actuation of the weighted lever 25 at each extremity of the movement of the pistons operates the intake and exhaust valves through the sector 26 secured upon a shaft 27 and having con tact pins 28 and 29, the-shaft 27 having secured thereon the two cams 30 and 31,- the cam 30 being arranged to co-act with the stem of the intakevalve 19 to open the intake valve when the sector is swung to the right, and the cam 31 co-acting with vthe stem of theflexhaust valve 20 to open the exhaust valve when the sector 26-is swung to 4 the left -The intake valve is prdvided with a light spring 32 which tends to hold it closed, and the pressure of the expanded medium also, and more powerfully tends to hold it closed. The exhaust valve 31 is also provided with a light spring 33"which tends to hold it closed,. and ,the pressure within the power chamber of the compressor also, and more powerfully, tends to hold'it closed. The cams 30 and'31 are so constructed that one valve is closed before the other valve is opened. In the position of parts shown in the valve has been closed and the intake valve, opened and the pistons are about to move upward. P

For the purpose of preventing back pressure or resistance from the chamber below,

'the'partition 68 and above the power piston 60, this chamber is connected to the conduit 21 by a short conduit 75 seas-to be at all times freely in communication with the exhau'stconduit of the power side of the apparatus. v L The compression part of the apparatus is double acting, he chamber above the com 'pressionpiston 61 being provided with an inlet check valve 35 and an outlet check .valve 36, and the chamber below thecom pression piston being provided withan inlet check valve 76 and an outlet check valve 77, all .of these check valvesbeing represented diagrammatically in the drawings, and the portion of the medium performing the refrigerating function is withdrawn from the cooling chamber (Sinto the upper compression chamber through the conduit 34, and is forced out of the upper compression chamber by the action of the compression piston throughthe conduit 37 into the condenser 5, fill dis withdrawn from the cooling cham-' her 6 into the lower compression chamber throughthe conduit 34 and a branch conduit 85," and is forcedout of the lower com- :pression chamber by theconduit 7 8" leading to the conduit 37 The weight of the pistons and connected parts is relied upon to comu 7 during the downward movement of the pistons, the spaces or chambe'rs below the power piston 60 being. conv the cooling chamber.

ward, the space or chamber above the nected' to the condenser during this downward movement, while the direct pressure of the expanded medium forces the pistons. up-

(power istons being connected to the con enser uring this movement.

The portion of the medium performing the refrigerating function.- is supplied from the condenser 5 to the coolin chamber 6 throu h the static column con uit 10 and a branc conduit 79 extending therefrom to The level of fluid in the cooling chamber .is regulated by means of a float valve 38, located at the entrance of the branch conduit 79 to the cooling chamher and its admission controlled by a float 40 located in the cooling chamber.

The condenser 5' is conventionally illustrated and may be of any suitable constructionrandzserve's to condense the medium from the power'side of the compressor as well as the medium from the compression side of the compressor, the portion ofthe medium 'which has performed the power function and refrigerating function being commingled in this condenser; and this con-.

denser supplies condensed medium both to the vaporizer or boiler 1, through the static column conduit 10, and to the refrigerating or cooling chamber 6, through the conduit 10 and branch conduit 79 as above described. The greater diameter of the power piston 60 as compared with thecompressor piston 61 enables the portion of the medium which performs the power function to overcome and compel the movement of the portion of the medium which erforms the refrigeratingfunction andje ectively perform the operationof withdrawing the medium from the cooling chamber and compressing it and forcing it into the condenser.

In the operation-of a closed cycle refrigerating system a certain quantity of foreign or uncondensable gases is usually produced,

through chemical decomposition and otherwise, and these foreign or uncondensable gases remain in the condenser and interfere with and impede the condensing operation, diminishin the effective surface of the condenser. U nder certain conditions a sufficient quantity of these foreign or uncondensable gases may collect and accumulate in the condenser to nearly or entirely fill it and thus effectually prevent the performance of its condensing operation, resulting in raising the temperature of the condenser.

- My invention includes automatic means for the removal .of these forei gases, controlled by the temperature 0 1 the condenser. Further the collection and accumulation of these foreign gases will be initiated at the exit end of the condenser, and theinert condition of the condenser resulting from thecollection of the foreign gases will be initiated at the exit end of the condenser,-

densable gases resulting from'tlie diminu theaccu mution of its effective surface b ,lation of the foreign gases wi 1 be apparent at an intermediate point, where the condensable. gases would, under roper working conditions, have been coole by the action of the condenser to a comparatively lowtemperatura- The working temperature of the condenser is usually a variable quantity by reason of the fact that the cooling water or-heat abstracting medium. is not usually regulated as to temperature,- and is therefore subject to considerable variations of temrature at different seasons of the year, and rom many other causes, or where cooling water is dispensed with and air is the cool ing medium, the variations in the temperature of the air will produce variations in the working temperature of the condenser. With a higher working temperature in the condenser, the temperatureindicatin the presence of foreign gases will necessarily be a higher temperature, and the difference between the working tem rature and the in- 'ternal temperature in t 1e active part of the condenser will determine the presence of foreign gases. The foreign gases which ac cumulate at the exit end of the condenser will be inert, and their temperature will therefore approximate or be at the same as the working temperature or the temperature of the heat abstracting or cooling means. a

My invention includes the provision of two temperature controlleddevices, shown as bimetallic bowed thermostats and 81, the thermostat 80 being located in the condenser, in proximity to the exit end of the condenser and the thermostat 81 being located in the condenser in advance thereof, these two thermostats coiiper'ating in the, control of means for removing the foreign gases, such coiiperation being effected through an electrical contact device shown as consisting of a contact pin 82 actuated by the thermostat 80, and shown as secured thereto and guided by a supporting piece 83,

. and havinga contact point inkproximity to the thermostat 81, and adapte to close an electric circuit by contact with this thermostat 81, the current flowing from the bat- I tery 46 through the thermostats and the 'electro-magnet 44. The armature 45 of the electro-magnet is securedto a blow-ofi' valve 41, which 1s held closed by a spring 43 and which is located in proximity to the exit end of the condenser. The spring 43 is sufliciently ,strong to hold the b'low-ofi' valve closed against pressure above the normal pressure in the condenser, and the valve is opened by the action of the elec'tro-magnet. In the refrigerating system shown the pressure within the condenser will be at all times duringx the operationof the system, higher than t at of the atmosphere, and the foreign 2 5 tric contact device will be held open and the gases may therefore be removed by simple opening of the blow-off valve, which will permit theforeign gases to escape.

LTh'e thermostat 80 is constructed so that an increase of temperature causes its free end to approach its fixed endand the contact rod 82 to be moved away from the other thermostat 81, and the thermostat 81'is con-' structed sot-hat 'anincrease of temperature .10

causes its free end to move away from its fixed endand therefore to approach the contact rod 82. Therefore if the temperature of the cooling water is increased and foreign gases are'not present or not-present in -suflicient quantities to materially impair] the heat abstracting function of the condenser, the contact rod SQ-and'free end of the ther-r m.ostat 81: will both be moved to the-right and their relative positions will not be substantially altered, and so long as the normal relation of temperatures within the conactuated in the same direction, and theelecblow ofi device will not be actuated. Should, however, a sufficient .quantity of foreign gases" be present in-the condenser to materially impair the heatabstracting function of the condenser, the inert foreign gases accumulated at the exit end of the condenser will respond to the variations of temperature of the cooling water While the condensable gases about the thermostat 81 will attam a proportionally greater temperature by reason of the impairment of the heat-abstracting function, and the relatively larger A movement of the thermostat .81 will close'the electric circuit, energize the electro-ma'gnet and cause the blow-off valve to be opened to ing permit the escape of the foreign gases, and

upon the'restoration of equal or approximately equal conditions of temperature aboutflthe two thermostats, the circuit will beopened. and the blow-off valve closed. Thus condenser-and acts only when the presence of foreign gases impairs the heat abstract function of the condenser.

It will be. observed that the conduit 10, which conveys the condensed medium out of the condenser, is located somewhat in advance of the thermostat 80 so that this thermostat isout of the path of the me'dium' flowing through the condenser,- and this arrangement removes the, thermostat from the path of the eondensable medium, circulating in the condenser and tendsv to place .it more completely under the control of the external conditions, such .as the-temperature In' 'the" operation of the compressor substantialfvariations of. pressure will occur I I a need to be of sufficient height to above and below the movable devicesor pistons and the mercuric or fluid columns will accommodate these variations of pressure. mercury is particularly well adapted for emits weight, but other fluids would be used within the spirit and scope of my invention. It is evident that various modifications may be made in theconstruction shown and above described within the spirit andscope of my invention.

" What'I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-:-

1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a condenser,,a cooling chamber, means for circulating a refrigerant medium through the condenser and cooling chamber, and two temperature controlled devices I exposed the temperatures :of different parts of the conthe device. is self adjusting to the variations in the working-temperatureof the The fluid .70 'ployment as to sealing liquid by reason of denser, and means for the removal of foreign gases from the apparatus controlled by the coaction' of the two temperature controlled devices. I r e p -2. A refrigerating apparatus having a condenser for the refrigerant medium, in combination with-a plurality of temperature controlled devices exposed to the temperatures of different parts 'of thecondens'er, and means for the removal offoreign gases fromv the apparatus controlled by the coacti on of the temperature controlled devices. 3. A refrigerating apparatus having a condenser for the refrigerant medium, in combination with a temperature-controlled device located in proximity to the' exit end of the condenser, temperature-controlled means located in the condenser at a distance from the exit end thereof 'andadapted to cooperate with device, gases from the apparatuscontrolled by the coaction of the temperature-controlled device and itscooperating means.-

L 'A refrigerating apparatus comprising acondenser, a coolihg chamber, means for the temperature-controlled trolled by the ceaction, ofthe temperatufe-I control-led device and its cooperating means.

havinga condenser for the refrigerant meand means, for the removal of foreign circulating a refrigerant/medium through 5. ,A closed cyclerefrigerating apparatus.

dium', a "temperature-controlled device exf posed to the temperature of the condenser in preximity to the exit end thereof, another .temperature-controlled device exposed to the temperature of the condenser in advancebf inoaeoe I moval of foreign gases from the apparatus to the temperature 0 the condenser ,in ad-- controlled by the coaction of the two temperature-controlled devices.

6. A closed cycle refrigerating apparatus having a condenser for the refrigerant medium, a temperature controlled device lo cated in the condenser out of the path of the refrigerant medium circulated therein, another temperature-co trolled device exposed Vance of the exit end thereof, and means for the removal of foreign gasesfrom the apparatus controlled by the coaction of the two temperature-controlled devices.

7. A refrigerating apparatus having a condenser for the refrigerant medium, .two thermostats exposed to the temperature of different parts of the condenser, an electric contact device controlled by bothv thermostats, and means for the removal of-foreign gases from the apparatus controlled by t e electric contact device.

8. A refrigerating apparatus having a condenser for the refrigerant medium, two

temperature-controlled devices exposed to the temperature of different parts of the condenser, circuit-closing means controlled by such devices for closing an electric circuit by the relative movements thereof, and electrically controlled means for the removal of foreign gases from the condenser controlled by such circuit.

9. A refrigerating apparatus having a condenser for the refrigerant medium, two thermostats located in the condenser, one in i proximity w the exit end of the condenser and the other in advance thereof, circuitclosing means controlled by both thermostats for closing an electric circuit by the relative movements thereof, and electrically controlled means for the removal of foreign gases from the condenser controlled bysuchcircuit.

a condenser, a cooling amber, means for circulating a refrigerant medium through the condenser and cooling chamber,

10. A refrigerating apparatus comprising two thermostats located in the condenser, one a being arranged out of the path of the regases 'from the condenser; controlled by such circuit.

11. A refrigerating apparatus having a condenser for the refrigerant medium, two thermostats located in the condenser, one in proximity to the exit end of the condenser and the other inadvance thereof, circuitclosing means controlled by both thermm ,statsfor closing an electric circuit by the relative movements thereoffa blow-0d valvelocated in proximity to the exit end of the condenser, and electrically controlled means controlled by such circuit and controlling such blow-off valve.

12. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a condenser, a (cooling chamber, means for circulating a refrigerant medium through the condenser and cooling chamber, two thermostats'lo'cated in the! condenser, one being arranged out of the'path of the refrigerant medium circulated therein and the other in advance thereof and in the path of the refrigerant medium, circuitclosing means controlled by both thermostats for closing; an elgctric circuit b the relative movements thereof, a blow-0 in proximity to the exit end of the condenser and electrically controlledmeans controlled valve located by such circuit'a'nd controlling such blowis maintained by expansion of) the refrigerant medium, self-adjusted temperature controlled means within the condenser and electrically operated means for the removal of foreign gases from the apparatus controlled by the temperature controlled means. In testimony whereof I have affixed mysignature in presence of two witnesses. CLYDE J. COLEMAN.

Witnesses: HENRY D. Wmnmms,

Hrnnan'r H. Gums. 

